Processors in Bulgaria and Romania face further EU restrictions
safety measures face a continued ban on trading with member states
even after the countries upcoming ascension to the bloc.
The additional restriction was announced yesterday by an EC scientific food safety advisory body. The new measure is part of a series that have been put in place ahead of Bulgaria and Romania's accession to the EU at the start of next month.
The restrictions are intended to ensure that the EU's food supply remains safe as the two countries have not completely complied with all of the bloc's safety rules.
In Bulgaria's case, EU inspections of non-compliant dairy and meat plants found that certain processors were still in violation of the bloc's food safety standards.
Processors currently authorised to export to the EU will be allowed to continue selling goods in the bloc. Those that are currently banned from doing so will only be able to trade within Bulgaria.
Restrictions against the non-compliant traders will be lifted once they pass EU food safety inspections, the European Commission's Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health said after a vote yesterday in favour of the restrictions.
The committee is made up of veternary representatives from EU member states.
The transitional period will allow Bulgaria's processors to upgrade their plants to the proper standards, the committee said.
"This transitional period will also give the authorities the opportunity to improve the traceability systems for products of animal origin," the committee stated.
The committee also voted to clarify restrictions on the use of ingredients of animal origin sourced from outside the EU before 1 January 2007 by Bulgaria and Romania's processors.
All food processors in the two countries that are authorised to export to EU members will be barred from using such ingredients.
"This is to ensure that processed goods made from non-compliant animal products are not inadvertently put on the market elsewhere in the EU," the standing committee said.
As previously agreed, processors currently barred from trading within the EU will be allowed to use such ingredients until 31 December 2007.
As the goods were imported before the date of enlargement, they may not be in compliance with all EU veterinary rules. Therefore, non-compliant products will only be allowed to be sold on the domestic markets, and will be specially marked, according to a previous decision by the committee.
